Anyone built an Axial kit and can give some tips?

[Kingfisher]

I've only every built Tamiya kits. This is what I have come to know and am completely familiar with. I know screws and parts by part number, and have them organized as such. I'm in the process of building an Axial Wraith Spawn kit, and find it to be a bit of a learning curve. It's taken me 2 hours to build both axles, where-as with a Tamiya kit, I would have been completely done by now. I find the manual to be easy to follow, but slightly different than what I am used to so I get my Left and Rights mixed up.

The axial plastic feels much harder than Tamiya plastic, and requires a bit more wrist action to get the screws in. I accidentally ruined a diff cover by overtightening the first of 4 screws and smooshing the hole in the cover with the screw head thinking it wasn't tight. I learned from that one.

My Tamiya screw drivers are of no use here because everything requires an allen head driver. I also find that the pre-drilled holes in the Axial parts have flashing left in the holes. After I built one of the axles, it wouldn't rotate any more. I took it back apart and found some of the flashing stuck to the ring gear, causing the bind. So, I learned to clean out the holes with a knife before running a screw through. Any other tips as this build progresses? I've gotten so used to Tamiya kits, that while this feels like a familiar task, I feel like a complete newb building this one, but am definitely enjoying the new challenge.

[Saito2]

I've never built an Axial kit, but I know what you mean. I've done Tamiya kits for so long, I can fly through even a new-to-me kit without any stress. From the hardware to the design implementation, it seems to just come together in my hands. There's quite a few I could build blindfolded by this point. So far, only the Kyosho re-res have come close to this ease of assembly (though they are still some foreign feeling in my hands). 

From what you describe, an Axial build seems a little like a Associated build. In this case, you have to check over the fitment of everything as you assemble it, checking and rechecking. I find a touch of grease on the head of a screw goes a long way to helping it into tougher plastics too. It will be a breath of fresh air and a change of pace but if you're like me, you be happy to return to a Tamiya afterwards. Wish I could be of more specific help.

[Kingfisher]

20 hours ago, Saito2 said:

I've never built an Axial kit, but I know what you mean. I've done Tamiya kits for so long, I can fly through even a new-to-me kit without any stress. From the hardware to the design implementation, it seems to just come together in my hands. There's quite a few I could build blindfolded by this point. So far, only the Kyosho re-res have come close to this ease of assembly (though they are still some foreign feeling in my hands). 

From what you describe, an Axial build seems a little like a Associated build. In this case, you have to check over the fitment of everything as you assemble it, checking and rechecking. I find a touch of grease on the head of a screw goes a long way to helping it into tougher plastics too. It will be a breath of fresh air and a change of pace but if you're like me, you be happy to return to a Tamiya afterwards. Wish I could be of more specific help.

Thanks. Your tips have been helpful and I have gotten the hang of it. Check fitment, clean out pre-drilled holes, mock up the parts, then screw it together. With Tamiya, you already know it's going to fit without issue, so this is new to me. 

[SurreyDad]

I don't have a massive amount of experience (4 kit builds in total) but I did build an Axial Yeti. My first impressions were very positive, everything was packaged really well and all the bags were clearly labelled. The manual was pretty good and prior to the build instructions, there are 7 pages that show all of the parts which I often referred to during the build.

I had also watched the (36!) TeamFastEddy Axial Yeti step by step Youtube videos, just checked and there are also 23 step by step Axial Wraith build videos. They are pretty slow going but strangely relaxing!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDqGlsKvZmyM2bAsFrjOZvQ

[Kingfisher]

Thanks. I've pretty much got it complete now. Just have to sticker the body. It was a fun build, but it didn't leave me with that feeling of wanting to build another one. After I had the chassis complete, I set it down to give it a test run. On the very first run, it broke both rear upper axle links right out of the mounts. I improvised with some threaded rod, and made new links. It held up to a small rock crawling torture test in the back yard after that.

[evssv69]

all i know stock axial bearings r crap....my yeti xl one's were ..so fit decent ones  from the off imo...and  sum kits can b missing a few bits from what I've  read but contact ur shop or axail and they should sort u out.....and the instructions arnt the clearest at times 

[Percymon]

I've only built one, a Wraith that i added Vanquish hop-up parts to during the build and that was ca 5-6 years ago.  All parts were well packaged and clearly labelled, the plastic felt more robust than the run of the mill Tamiya kits (more like the carbon reinforced Tamiya parts).  No issues with the build manual or the build itself.  Opening the kit box was a little underwhelming..

but its pretty much the same with recent Tamiya kits and Gmade.

The Vanquish upgrades were very well made, I'm sure Axials parts would be durable but the Vanquish items really lifted the build from plastic heaven..

 

 

There is the odd error in Tamiya manuals so they aren't foolproof by any means and the arrows they use to show turning diff parts around often catch many people out.